Getting users to your site over a competitor isn’t the easiest task-especially in today’s world. Businesses are constantly competing against one another for that top spot in search results. Due to competition many turn to Google Adwords or CPC, instead of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) to help them get that shiny top spot. Adwords can get pricey, and while the initial time and cost of SEO can be much, once in place, the cost is minimal. So what can you do to boost your site’s traffic without having to turn to ad spend?
Here are 8 Easy Ways to Boost Your Website Traffic:
1) BLOGGING is one of the best ways to generate organic traffic. Blogs can be in the form of a news page or be a traditional blog. They also a great way for you to educate your visitors about things that matter to them. If done right, companies or individuals can position themselves as a thought leaders in their industry.
Hint: Search engines give websites extra kudos that are updated frequently, so make sure you have a content calendar in place and blog regularly!
2) LINK BUILDING internally and externally is essential to show search engines that your site matters. Other sites linking to you shows Google that you’re a site that is credible and is trusted by other users, which leads to your site ranking higher than other sites who may not have as many links. But, this is not a one-way street. When producing your own content, you want to link internally to other relevant posts you may have created, as well as reputable sources. Generally speaking, you want to stick to around 2-5 links in your posts-having too many will give off a “spam” effect.
There is a lot of work that has to go into your link building strategy. It takes creating relationships with high authority sites so that your content can be placed as a benefit to the users of these sites. What are high authority sites? If you Google that question, you will find many lists of high authority sites, but the basic definition is a site with a whole lot of traffic that continually produces new content and that people regularly engage with.
Also be careful not to just place links everywhere, just to have links pointing to your site. In the old days, many so-called SEO outfits would place your URL in as many places as possible and this would take many right to the top of Google. Google said not-so-fast. They quickly caught on, and now if a company places links on sites that are only used for back linking, the penalty from Google will be severe.
3) CONTENT CREATION based on your audience’s personas that answer questions they may have and educates them on specific topics or services you may offer is a must when it comes to having a great SEO strategy. Keep in mind, though, that content that comes across as too spam-y or is poorly written can work against you and produce fewer leads. Creating quality content will keep your visitors wanting to come back and visit your site.
4) OPTIMIZE for your USERS, not for search engines is key. This is often overlooked and many companies push out content with as many keywords as possible. Wrong tactic. Your first step is knowing who your buyer personas are and what type of content they want to consume. By creating quality and educational content for your users, you will keep them coming back, which in turn leads to higher SEO rankings.
5) LONG TAIL KEYWORDS play a huge part when optimizing for SEO. Sure, you can spitball plenty of keywords that are around your industry or line of business, all the ones your competitors are likely targeting. Instead, focus on long-tail keywords that relate to your specific market. Long tail keywords account for majority of online searches, so if you’re not optimizing for these, you’re seriously missing the boat.
6) Know your META. Meta what? Meta data- the page title, description, and URL- is the first thing search engines look for. It’s a snapshot of what your page or content is about. This is a MUST for every page and has to contain the keyword you are optimizing for. Your Meta description should highlight what your page is about, so including information and main keywords that your user may be searching the web for is imperative.
Side tip: if you’re page contains images in it, including keywords in the alt tag will also increase your SEO rankings. If you are using WordPress, we recommend Yoast– a free plugin-that makes the essential SEO tasks easy to understand and complete.
7) SOCIAL SHARE everything and anything. Do you currently have a Facebook account? LinkedIn? Twitter? Pinterest? Google+? Great. Whatever social platform your organization utilizes, these have become your SEO best friends. Sprinkle your targeted keywords throughout your content and share them as often as possible with your social audiences. You could also share your social content with other reputable sites that may find your post engaging and helpful.
Bonus: Add social sharing buttons on your site (if you don’t already), so your users can easily share your content with their connections. Word of mouth…or social… is everything!
8) LOCAL, Local, Local! Search algorithms favor listings that are local to the searcher. It is no wonder then that it is imperative to be sure your listings are accurate and populated with the content you want the user to see. The most important of these is your Google Business Listing. Other listings are also important, such as Yellow Pages, Yelp, and Facebook. Yext put together a great list this past July of the best local directories. Check it out.
A proper SEO strategy involves many layers, moving parts, and a lot of hard work. But if done right, the results will drastically increase a company’s top line revenue. As long as people are searching online, there is a business case for SEO and it should be an essential part of your marketing strategy. Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a SEO firm, always be sure that your audience’s experience is put first and optimization second.
Have Questions? Shoot us an email. We will point you in the right direction.